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Synagogues, churches and mosques will be given government cash to protect themselves against attacks by racists, under plans to be published this week.

Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, will launch a new “hate crime” action plan, including a drive to punish offenders more harshly by ordering prosecutors to press for tougher sentences in court.

A £2.4 million fund will be set up to pay for “protective security measures” at places of worship, the Home Office said.

The Home Office strategy will include details on work to prevent hate crime on buses and trains, as well as efforts to prevent anti-Semitism and attacks on Muslim women.

The plan comes after a sharp rise in so-called “hate crime” incidents such as barging, spitting and assaults directed at racial and religious minorities around the time of the European Union referendum a month ago.

A Polish community delicatessen in West LondonCredit:
Neil Hall/Reuters

There were reports of racist graffiti daubed on a Polish community centre in west London and laminated cards with the message "Leave the EU - no more Polish vermin" being delivered to members of the migrant community in Huntingdon.

Ms Rudd said such acts of hatred directed at any "community, race or religion" have "no place whatsoever in our diverse society" and must be "kicked to the kerb".

“Where crimes are committed we must make sure victims have the confidence to report incidents and the law is rigorously enforced," she said.

“At a time of increased concerns about a climate of hostility towards people who have come to live in our country, let me be absolutely clear that it is completely unacceptable for people to suffer abuse or attacks because of their nationality, ethnic background or colour of their skin. We will not stand for it.”

The new action plan will set out "robust and comprehensive steps" to eradicate hate crime, Ms Rudd said.

Prosecutors will be issued with fresh guidance on racially and religiously aggravated offences and encouraged to pursue tougher sentences by applying to courts to exercise existing powers to increase penalties in hate crime cases.

A £2.4million fund will be set up for protective security measures at vulnerable places of worship, while there will also be "targeted work" to prevent hate crime on public transport and tackle attacks on Muslim women, as well as a continued emphasis on eradicating anti-Semitism.

A spate of reports in the wake of the EU referendum sparked fears of a wave of xenophobic and racial abuse.

Figures released on Friday showed more than 6,000 alleged hate crimes and incidents were reported to police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in four weeks from the middle of last month.

The daily rate peaked at 289 reports on June 25 - the day after the referendum result was announced.

The main type of offence reported over the month was "violence against the person", which includes harassment and common assault, as well as verbal abuse, spitting and "barging".

Public order offences and criminal damage were the second and third most common incidents respectively.

Separate statistics published earlier this month showed the Crown Prosecution Service is prosecuting a record number of hate crimes.

In 2015/16, the CPS prosecuted 15,442 hate crimes - a 4.8 per cent rise on the previous year.